Plans which a panel of experts say will 'provide an improved service for Hywel Dda mothers and babies' have been agreed by Health Minister Mark Drakeford.

The main recommendations are that:

• A Level 2 Neonatal Unit is established at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen

• Obstetric and maternity services at Bronglais and Withybush hospitals will be midwifery-led

• Until the new service model is in place, consultant obstetric support will remain in place in Withybush

• There should be a phased introduction, with the new service model fully implemented only when all the necessary elements - including hospital transfer arrangements for emergencies - are in place

• Paediatric and obstetric teams, based at Glangwili, should provide 24/7 emergency care across the entire Health Board area.

The expert panel's initial report of September 2013 concluded that: 'The provision of neonatal special care facilities across all health board hospitals is neither safe nor sustainable. Even if funds were available to establish teams of specialists at every site where babies are born, it is unlikely that there would be sufficient numbers of skilled, trained staff available to recruit, and even if recruitment were possible, their skills will be inevitably, rapidly, compromised through lack of sufficient patient throughput'.

Agreeing the panel's recommendations, the Minister said: "The panel has confirmed its advice to me in September that a level 2 Neonatal Unit is established at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. The panel has also endorsed Hywel Dda Health Board's intention to move to midwife led units across the region.

"However, the panel has set out a number of important provisos and recommend a phased introduction of the new model. These include robust 'safety net' arrangements to provide midwives with skilled assistance in the event of an unexpected emergency. There must also be robust emergency transfer arrangements, and the midwife-led units must be developed according to strict guidelines.

"These changes will mean that the majority of maternity services will continue to be provided locally by their GP and hospital as they are now, and the majority of women can safely choose to have their deliveries at their local midwife led unit.

"The panel's conclusion is that the new service model will 'provide an improved service for Hywel Dda mothers and babies'. That is the basis on which it has secured my endorsement."

The Minister announced an independent evaluation of the impact of the revised services on newborn outcomes and patient experiences in 12 months time.